The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-05-09
Calvary Church.

Yesterday morning Calvary Church
was well filed with an attentive con-
gregation, it being tho occasion Of the
visitation Of the bishop for the pur-
pose of holding confirmation services.
The order Of services was as follows:
Litsny, said by the Rev. Alfred Tay-
Tor; nte.communion office, said by
the bishop, after which the sermon
was preached by the Rev. A. Taylor,
followed by stirring address to the
candidates for confirmation by the
bishop.
Six cen candidates were presented
for confirmation, which number would
doubtless have been greatly augmented
had there been rector in charge OF
the parish, and II promises we'll for
the future earnest Christian service oil
these. candidates that they peIsevol cd
in their prepa atoms amidst unavoid-
sb'e discouragem ent, and came forth
today strong In the determination to
give their life serviceto their Lord and
Master, Jseus Christ.
The following Is an outline OF the
sermon preached by the Rev. A. Tav-
Tor: Second Mathew V, IA 10. "Ye
are he ligh. OF the word. A city
that is set on au hill cannot b. hid.
Neither do men light a candle and put
it III der a bushel, bat on candle.
stick; and II give. light unto all that
are in the hOdse. Let your light so
shine bafore men that they may rec
yoIrg cd works and glorify your Fa-
ther which 10 in Heaven"
Perhaps the best interpreta OF
our tex may be fOuud in Sscoad
johns writings, where he gays: "God
is light" and ''if We walk in tho light
Go He il in the light we have fellow
ship one with another" God alone
is light, absolute, and Christians can
be light only in the sense Of light
bearers, ss channels through which
tbs light absolute shines upon the
moral world.
10 effect, Christ says: When man
light candle, they place it where its
light will be seen by all that are in
the house, aud had the disciples been
light absolute, that ia, light in the
same sense as God ia light" he would
have continued $50 in like manner
do you yourselves shine before men,"
but instead OF this he seems to say
The divine light has been given 10
you, and is now shining in your
hearts; do not try to hide it, but let it
shine through your life upon the
world, as men who do not put q can
die under a bushel, but on q candle
stick.
The same thought is conveyed in
the verse where the Lord Jesus COM
pares them to City set on hill, and
the thought is that, as city which is
built on q hill cannot be hid, so OF ne.
cetsity must the divine light which iB
in the souls OF Christians shine forth
and be seen OF men.
The idea OF speaking Of Christians is
one which is most ctr kingly beautiful,
as we shall see when we consider it
further:
(a) Light is the revssler OF beauty
in nature. This divine light ia the re-
vealer f spiritual beauty.
(b) Light Is the revealer OF the pow
or OF darkness-the divine light ie.
veals the power OF moral darkness.
(c) Light has always been regarded
as the emblem Of purity, because I'M
der all conditions it remains untsinted.
So, in its truest application II is the
emblem Of holiness; for what is holi-
ness but the most perfect moral puri-
TYP Aud this Is the light which God
ASS shall shine through your life
upon the world. We can only reflect
this divine light by personal holiness
by the conservation OF all We have and
are 10 the Masters service.
And the SxhoTtation Ia that We let
this light, this holiness be 30 apparent
in our lie that for the works which
are the outcome OF IL, mon shall
praise not as, but God. The same
thought is expressed in the sixth
chapter OF this Gospel where the
Lord Jesus says: "Take heed that We
do not your aims before men TO be
seen by them" And in both
passages the warning is not against
having the praise Of men, but against
doing our good works in order that
we may have their praise.
1t is not take heed that ye be not
seen in your alms, but "laks heed
that ye do not your aims before me to
be seen Of men," that lie, with that
aim and purpose.
1t is not, do not let men see your
I.ak IL